Querida Amazonia Flashcards
(44 cards)
ecological
[relating to ecology or the environment]
The destruction of the rain forests is an ecological disaster.
parliament
[in some countries, the group of (usually) elected politicians or other people who make the laws for their country]
On Tuesday the country’s parliament voted to establish its own army.
diagnoses
[a judgment about what a particular illness or problem is, made after examining it]
Diagnosis of the disease is difficult in the early stages.
timber
[trees that are grown so that the wood from them can be used for building]
These trees are being grown for timber.
ranch
[a very large farm on which animals are kept, especially in North and South America]
He went to work on a ranch.
hydroelectric
[producing electricity by the force of fast moving water such as rivers or waterfalls]
More than 80% of the power generated in the Northwest comes from hydroelectricity.
outrage
[a feeling of anger and shock]
These murders have provoked outrage across the country.
peasant
[a person who owns or rents a small piece of land and grows crops, keeps animals, etc. on it, especially one who has a low income, very little education, and a low social position. This is usually used of someone who lived in the past or of someone in a poor country]
Tons of internationally donated food was distributed to the starving peasants.
abhorrence
[a feeling of hating something or someone]
She looked at him in/with abhorrence.
amputate
[to cut off a part of the body]
In these cases there is no choice but to amputate.
shrewdness
[clear understanding and good judgment of a situation, usually resulting in an advantage]
She was a woman of great courage and political shrewdness.
permeate
[to spread through something and be present in every part of it]
A foul smell of stale beer permeated the whole building.
steep
[to cause to stay in a liquid, especially in order to become soft or clean, or to improve flavour]
We had pears steeped in red wine for dessert.
invasive
[An invasive organism is one that has arrived in a place from somewhere else and has a harmful effect on that place]
The Asian long-horned beetle is one of the newest and most harmful invasive species in the United States.
swell
[to become larger and rounder than usual; to (cause to) increase in size or amount]
The group recruited more members, swelling its ranks (= increasing its size) to more than 1.3 million.
cosmic
[relating to the universe and the natural processes that happen in it]
cosmic dust/radiation
gust
[a sudden strong wind]
A sudden gust of wind blew his umbrella inside out.
foliage
[the leaves of a plant or tree, or leaves on the stems or branches on which they are growing]
The dense foliage overhead almost blocked out the sun.
stoicism
[the quality of experiencing pain or trouble without complaining or showing your emotions]
He endured the pain of his wounds with great stoicism.
spine
[the line of bones down the centre of the back that provides support for the body and protects the spinal cord]
She injured her spine in a riding accident.
enamoured
[liking something a lot]
I have to say I’m not exactly enamoured of this part of the country.
menace
[something that is likely to cause harm]
Drunk drivers are a menace to everyone.
equilibrium
[a state of balance]
The disease destroys much of the inner ear, disturbing the animal’s equilibrium.
capitulate
[to accept something or agree to do something unwillingly]
I capitulated and let my daughter go with her friends.
